Blog Jones

I saw The Incredibles for the first time this week. A very good movie; you’re only cheating yourself if you don’t go and see it.

Fair warning: There are spoilers in the extended entry.

First we had the WWJD fad.

Then we had the Prayer of Jabez fad.

Now we have the Purpose Driven Life fad.

Next: The candles that smell like Jesus fad!

Key quote:

Bob Tosterud and wife Karen say the formula is all spelled out in Psalm 45.

“It’s a Messianic Psalm referring to when Christ returns and his garments will have the scent of myrrh, aloe and cassia,” says Karen Tosterud.

Via Dave Barry.

As you no doubt already know, Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube was pulled today. I haven’t really been following this story too closely over the past several weeks, but here are my thoughts:

If Mrs. Schiavo made it clear that she did not wish to be kept alive artificially, then she should not be kept alive artificially. Of course, the problem is that we don’t know if that’s what she really wanted, because she did not sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order or living will.

Her husband, Michael, says that she made her desires clear to him. In the absence of any written orders, he, as her closest living relative, gets the right to make this decision for her, regardless of his moral character. Therefore, if he decides to have the tube pulled, it should be pulled.

Some would regard this as murder; is it really? Or is it just “letting nature take its course”? Is it not just turning the case over to the Highest Power?

Is withholding unwanted medical care murder? I don’t think so.

Now, one detail remains: Over the next week or two, Mrs. Schiavo will essentially be starving to death. This will be an extremely painful experience, described by (at least) one commentator as torture. We don’t want that; I’d recommend that Schiavo receive some sort of painkiller to ease her passing.

The woman is brain-dead. It’s time to let her go.

UPDATE: See my next post on this topic.

I went by the P&P office today to get the tickets I actually wanted. The lady was reasonably efficient and friendly. A much better experience than last time.